Maurizio Sarri’s love for a smoke is quite something.

The Italian manager would regularly light up a cigarette on the touchline while the manager of Empoli and Napoli.

Smoking is banned at Premier League grounds so Sarri had to find an alternative way of feeding his addiction while at Chelsea - and he did so by chewing on cigarette butts.

The 60-year-old, now back in Italy as Juventus boss, revealed to La Nuova Riviera how many cigarettes he has each day. It’s a lot.

“I smoke 60 a day, which is probably a few too many,” he said, per the Mirror.

“I don’t particularly feel the need to smoke during games, but straight afterwards it really is necessary. I had back problems tormenting me for weeks, but I feel much better now.”

Sixty cigarettes a day works out at 21,900 a year. Yeah, that’s probably too much, Maurizio.

His reluctance to stop, though, has reportedly frustrated his new employers.

Italian news agency Ansa claim Juventus are ‘irritated’ after Sarri refused to stop smoking, in a story brought to our attention by the Daily Mail.

Sarri, who replaced Massimiliano Allegri in the summer, was diagnosed with pneumonia earlier in August and has missed Juve’s first two Serie A games of the season under the advice of club doctors.

Sarri’s habits are a concern to Juventus’ hierarchy; they would prefer for him to quit while being treated for the infection.

But Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera published a photo of the former banker holding a packet of cigarettes while posing with fans this week, suggesting he’s defying the wishes of his bosses.

Image credit: Corriere della Sera

Sarri’s health has improved - there’s a chance he will return to the touchline for Saturday’s clash against his old club Napoli - but Juventus’ top brass still want him to kick the habit and focus on returning to full fitness.